Alaska Cruises & The Rockies
Alaska Cruises offer you a chance to discover a land untainted by the modern world. Embark on an unforgettable trip and discover Alaska's incredible sceneries. Imagine the otherworldly experience of viewing the humpback whales breaching in the icy water against a backdrop of breath-taking blue and white glaciers and awe-inspiring mountain ranges, all of which enjoyed from the comfort of your cruise ship. Visualise being surrounded by the lush greenery of the rainforest, thrilled by the sheer size and magnificent strength of the bears lumbering around; one of the many shore excursion trips available during your cruise of Alaska.
You will encounter rarely seen wildlife, an Alaska cruise allows you the chance to be a true explorer and view the mysterious creatures of the deep, a variety of migrating whales in icy water: humpback, gray whales, killer whales, blue whales, and beluga whales. View endangered species such as bald-headed eagles spreading their wings and circling above you, and observe the amusing characteristics of otters and seals as they tumble in the water or play on the shore. Go on shore excursions where you can watch species up close, including grizzly or brown bears as they feed on the salmon streams or lumber around in the rainforest.
Alaska's stunning vistas present endless opportunities for stunning landscape photography, but be careful not to become overwhelmed by its natural beauty. As your cruise ship passes the Hubbard Glacier, composed of an incredible 1,350 square miles of ice, you may find yourself so awestruck that you forget to take a picture!
Make sure you have a good camera to capture the dazzling spectrum of blues, pinks, and yellow reflections dancing across the surface of glaciers and the soaring heights of the snowy mountains. You’ll find so many photo opportunities when you cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage with its beautiful islands and fjords. For a change of scenery, trek through misty trails in the fertile green rain forest, with trees coated in moss and lichen, surrounded by colourful fauna.
You can immerse yourself in a rich and cultural history, retrace the last steps of the gold rush at Skagway. Be part of the unique melting pot of Sitka – made up of Alaskan Natives and Russian. Learn about First Nations culture at Ketchikan.
Main departure and arrival points for Alaska cruises
Alaska cruises differ to most cruise holidays as they tend to be round trips, which is good news for you as it means flight tickets will be cheaper and booking can be less hassle. The majority of Alaskan cruises start in the US or Canada which means you will have a fantastic opportunity to start or end your trip with an exploration of iconic landmarks, regional cuisine, and the culture of exciting cities. There is a delightful choice of Vancouver, Chicago, Seattle, or San Francisco. Or for something truly extraordinary you could book the only cruise which starts in Reykjavik, Iceland and ends up in Vancouver with Royal Caribbean.
Alaska Cruise Add-Ons
The great advantage of going on an Alaska cruise which starts or ends in Seattle of Vancouver is that you can add on a train trip to the Canadian Rockies, considered one of the greatest journeys in the world. You pass through parks which have been given the UNESCO World Heritage classification for the area’s “exceptional natural beauty”. Trips usually from 4-7 days.
The best time to cruise Alaska
Alaska cruises start from late April to September and it will be a remarkable trip no matter the month you choose. However, there are best times to go, depending on your priorities.
On a budget or want to avoid the crowds? Due to the unpredictable weather, late April, May, and September are the least popular months to visit Alaska and therefore tend to be cheaper. May, in particular, is considered offseason and prices tend to be the lowest. Due to the changeable weather, there is a chance that shore excursions could be canceled unfortunately offering a little less opportunity to see the wildlife.
Alaska’s warmest months? June to August is Alaska’s warmest period with temperatures ranging from 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is worth noting that the temperature in Alaska is changeable; the day may start out cold, even freezing and by the afternoon you could be treated to glorious sunshine. The sun sets very late in Alaska, at around 8 pm - 10 pm, so you can enjoy many hours of beautiful views.
Passionate about wildlife? In Alaska, you can catch a glimpse of some amazing wildlife all year round, but if it is bears you are looking for, you are most likely to see them during the salmon runs during July and August. This is also the time seals and sea lions give birth, which is an amazing sight to behold.
Due to the variety of whales inhabiting the waters surrounding Alaska, you should be able to spot them anytime, especially if you go on a specific whale excursion. Don't forget to ask our specialist about these!
See the Northern Lights
It's not guaranteed, but there is a chance you could glimpse the elusive 'Aurora borealis in September.
A few things to note... Expect the weather to change rapidly during your Alaska cruise, it could be scorching and then suddenly become extremely windy and cold. We recommend wearing layers that can quickly be shed or put on, and make sure to also pack waterproof clothes. It is also worth noting that you will also be in freezing conditions when viewing the glaciers and will, therefore, need thermal wear.
You may be disappointed if you forget to bring binoculars as they will allow you to really zoom in on the spectacular wildlife. We would also recommend investing in a high-quality pair of polarized sunglasses to cut the glare on the ice and see all the colours vividly.

San Fran, Sleepless in Seattle and Brilliant Alaska Voyage
Virgin Voyages
May 2026 - Aug 2026
From £2579

The Majestic Canada Rockies and Pristine Alaska 2026
Celebrity Cruises
Apr 2026 - Sep 2026
From £3299

Across the Pacific from San Francisco to Tokyo
Carnival Cruises
Sep 2026
From £2639

San Francisco & Alaskan Voyage on Luminosa
Carnival Cruises
Apr 2026 - Sep 2026
From £1789

Seattle Sights and Edge of Alaskan Delights
Celebrity Cruises
May 2025 - Sep 2026
From £1859

Spectacular Seattle & Quantum Alaska Voyage
Royal Caribbean
May 2025 - Sep 2025
From £1959

Chicago and US Rockies Express to Alaska
Royal Caribbean
May 2025 - Sep 2026
From £2319

Quantum Alaska and Rockies Train to Chicago
Royal Caribbean
May 2025 - Sep 2025
From £2369

Chicago & the Rockies Express to Alaska
Celebrity Cruises
May 2025 - Aug 2026
From £2459

West Coast USA & Alaska
Holland America Line
Apr 2025 - Aug 2025
From £3109

The Majestic Canada Rockies and Pristine Alaska 2025
Celebrity Cruises
May 2025 - Sep 2025
From £3519

All Inclusive Alaskan Bliss and the Emerald City
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Apr 2025 - Sep 2026
From £2169

All Inclusive Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express to Chicago
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Apr 2025 - Oct 2026
From £2379

Canadian Rockies and Virgin Alaska
Virgin Voyages
May 2026
From £4419

West Coast USA and Alaska with Carnival
Carnival Cruises
Apr 2025 - Sep 2025
From £1629

The Legend of Alaska
Carnival Cruises
May 2025 - Sep 2025
From £1919

Cunard 11 Night Alaska Cruise Rockies Express from Seattle to Chicago
Cunard Line
Jun 2025 - Aug 2025
From £2359

Cunard 10 Night Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express from Seattle to Chicago
Cunard Line
Jun 2025 - Sep 2025
From £2859

7 Night Alaskan Cruises from Vancouver
Princess Cruises
May 2025 - Aug 2025
From £1949

U.S. Rockies Rail Journey and Alaskan Discovery Cruise
Princess Cruises
Apr 2025 - Sep 2025
From £2369

Toronto & Vancouver Discovery to Alaska
Holland America Line
Apr 2025 - Sep 2026
From £2389

Rockies Express and 11 Night Alaskan cruise from San Francisco
Princess Cruises
Apr 2025 - Sep 2025
From £2699

Princess Alaska and The Rocky Mountaineer Train-Westbound 2025
Princess Cruises
May 2025 - Aug 2025
From £3799

Vancouver and the Alaskan Explorer
Holland America Line
May 2025 - Sep 2025
From £2649

Alaska Via rail westbound via Jasper
Holland America Line
Apr 2025 - Sep 2026
From £3919

Alaska and via rail eastbound via Jasper
Holland America Line
May 2025 - Sep 2026
From £3929

Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice Cruise on Noordam
Holland America Line
Jun 2026
From £4899

Luxury Alaskan Collection
Oceania Cruises
Jun 2025 - Sep 2025
From £3789

Alaskan Cruise & Canada's Rocky Mountaineer
Holland America Line
Apr 2025 - Sep 2026
From £3599

Alaskan Cruise & Canada's Rocky Mountaineer Westbound
Holland America Line
Apr 2025 - Sep 2026
From £3129

Luminosa Far East Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Sep 2026 - Nov 2026
From £2129

The Alaskan & Rocky Mountains Adventure
Oceania Cruises
Jun 2025 - Sep 2026
From £5439